Explore the best rated trails in Charleston, IL. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Greenbelt Bikeway and Brown Boulevard Trail. With more than 25 trails covering 88 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The Rosedale South Trail offers a paved, tree-lined route along the former Pennsylvania Railroad in the western Indiana community of Rosedale. It begins on the Central Street and travels southwest for...
Monticello is a small, central Illinois town steeped in a railroad history it still celebrates. Its Chamber of Commerce has offices and special activities in the historic downtown Train Depot. And it...
The backbone of the Greenbelt Bikeway runs north–south along Copper Slough, passing through two large city parks divided by W. Bradley Avenue. In Dodds Park to the north, there is a spur west through...
North of the Sangamon River crossing, the Conservation District Trail closely follows Stevens Creek through a flat and dense wetlands forest on the west end of Decatur. South of the river, the trail...
The Lincoln Park Trail runs along the wooded north banks of the Sangamon River. It's mostly flat with a few low hills. Visible from the trail are Decatur's Lincoln Park, some classic old neighborhoods...
While you’re in the land of Lincoln, visit the Lincoln Prairie Trail to make the trip complete. Starting at the trailhead in northwest Pana, leisurely stroll along a paved trail that is nicely...
Monticello is a small, central Illinois town steeped in a railroad history it still celebrates. Its Chamber of Commerce has offices and special activities in the historical downtown train depot. And...
The Mahomet Village Bike Trail is a safe, paved route that connects all the major parts of the village. On the north, there are the various and popular facilities of the Lake of the Woods Forest...
Although less than 1 mile long, there are plenty of reasons to hit the Fairbanks Park Trail in western Indiana's Terre Haute. The tree-lined pathway winds along the banks of the Wabash River through...
The Hulman Street Trail follows its namesake roadway through residential and commercial areas of Terre Haute, passing Farrington Grove Elementary School along the way. At its western end, the trail...
The first portion of the TREC (Trail Recreation Effingham County) system, totaling approximately 3 miles, is complete, although eventually 30 miles of county-wide bicycling and walking trails will be...
The Collett Park Pathway begins on the northern edge of the Indiana State University campus, where it connects to the National Road Heritage Trail, a proposed border-to-border route stretching between...
The Brown Boulevard Trail offers students from Terre Haute North Vigo High School a safe route to the Indiana State University Stadium to catch a game. The 2-mile trail also connects to the National...
The first 6.7-mile section of the Kickapoo Rail Trail in eastern Illinois opened in August 2017. Paralleling U.S. 150, the Champaign County rail-trail runs from Urbana east to St. Joseph along the...
O'Malley's Alley is a paved, half-mile trail through a residential area south of Kaufman Lake on the western end of Champaign. On Kenwood Road (at the eastern end of the trail), you can head south on...
Although less than 1 mile long, the Dobbs Trail offers an important connection between two of Terre Haute's most popular parks, Deming and Dobbs. It follows Poplar Drive, a tree-lined residential...
The unique Indiana Veterans Memorial Mile circles Indiana State University's football stadium in the shape of the state. Along the way, fitness stations add to your walking or biking routine. At...
The Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail runs 12 miles, much of the way along an old railroad right-of-way between County Highway 2 east of Charleston and the ball fields at 10th Street in Mattoon; an...
The General Dacey Trail, which first opened in 2006, is a beautiful and richly varied trail located between the city of Shelbyville to the west and large Lake Shelbyville to the east. Its surface is...
The Stevens Creek Bikeway follows a scenic stream for 4 miles through neighborhoods and woodlands, connecting two parks (one at each end of the trail) on the western side of Decatur in central...
While you’re in the land of Lincoln, visit the Lincoln Prairie Trail to make the trip complete. Starting at the trailhead in northwest Pana, leisurely stroll along a paved trail that is nicely...
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The Terre Haute segment of the National Road Heritage Trail runs for nearly 7 miles between the west end of Indiana State University campus downtown and Chamberlain Road behind Mewhinney Cemetery just...
The Brown Boulevard Trail offers students from Terre Haute North Vigo High School a safe route to the Indiana State University Stadium to catch a game. The 2-mile trail also connects to the National...
The Mahomet Village Bike Trail is a safe, paved route that connects all the major parts of the village. On the north, there are the various and popular facilities of the Lake of the Woods Forest...
The Wabashiki Trail sits on the traces the perimeter of the Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area, leaving travelers with the dual experience of nature and suburbia on either side. Great for wildlife...
The General Dacey Trail, which first opened in 2006, is a beautiful and richly varied trail located between the city of Shelbyville to the west and large Lake Shelbyville to the east. Its surface is...
The first portion of the TREC (Trail Recreation Effingham County) system, totaling approximately 3 miles, is complete, although eventually 30 miles of county-wide bicycling and walking trails will be...
The Harold E. Ruppel sits in a perfect location to provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and non-motorized transportation for residents of Savoy Village, in the Champaign-Urbana metro area. It...
O'Malley's Alley is a paved, half-mile trail through a residential area south of Kaufman Lake on the western end of Champaign. On Kenwood Road (at the eastern end of the trail), you can head south on...
Although less than 1 mile long, the Dobbs Trail offers an important connection between two of Terre Haute's most popular parks, Deming and Dobbs. It follows Poplar Drive, a tree-lined residential...
The Lincoln Park Trail runs along the wooded north banks of the Sangamon River. It's mostly flat with a few low hills. Visible from the trail are Decatur's Lincoln Park, some classic old neighborhoods...
The backbone of the Greenbelt Bikeway runs north–south along Copper Slough, passing through two large city parks divided by W. Bradley Avenue. In Dodds Park to the north, there is a spur west through...
The Rosedale South Trail offers a paved, tree-lined route along the former Pennsylvania Railroad in the western Indiana community of Rosedale. It begins on the Central Street and travels southwest for...
Although less than 1 mile long, there are plenty of reasons to hit the Fairbanks Park Trail in western Indiana's Terre Haute. The tree-lined pathway winds along the banks of the Wabash River through...
The Collett Park Pathway begins on the northern edge of the Indiana State University campus, where it connects to the National Road Heritage Trail, a proposed border-to-border route stretching between...
Monticello is a small, central Illinois town steeped in a railroad history it still celebrates. Its Chamber of Commerce has offices and special activities in the historical downtown train depot. And...
The Stevens Creek Bikeway follows a scenic stream for 4 miles through neighborhoods and woodlands, connecting two parks (one at each end of the trail) on the western side of Decatur in central...
Monticello is a small, central Illinois town steeped in a railroad history it still celebrates. Its Chamber of Commerce has offices and special activities in the historic downtown Train Depot. And it...
The unique Indiana Veterans Memorial Mile circles Indiana State University's football stadium in the shape of the state. Along the way, fitness stations add to your walking or biking routine. At...
Except for short-distance walkers, the principal attraction of the Kiwanis Park/West Side Trail is its connection to the other parts of Decatur's trail system. From its western terminus, one can...
The Hulman Street Trail follows its namesake roadway through residential and commercial areas of Terre Haute, passing Farrington Grove Elementary School along the way. At its western end, the trail...
The General Dacey Trail, which first opened in 2006, is a beautiful and richly varied trail located between the city of Shelbyville to the west and large Lake Shelbyville to the east. Its surface is...
The first 6.7-mile section of the Kickapoo Rail Trail in eastern Illinois opened in August 2017. Paralleling U.S. 150, the Champaign County rail-trail runs from Urbana east to St. Joseph along the...
The Collett Park Pathway begins on the northern edge of the Indiana State University campus, where it connects to the National Road Heritage Trail, a proposed border-to-border route stretching between...
Although less than 1 mile long, there are plenty of reasons to hit the Fairbanks Park Trail in western Indiana's Terre Haute. The tree-lined pathway winds along the banks of the Wabash River through...
O'Malley's Alley is a paved, half-mile trail through a residential area south of Kaufman Lake on the western end of Champaign. On Kenwood Road (at the eastern end of the trail), you can head south on...
The Stevens Creek Bikeway follows a scenic stream for 4 miles through neighborhoods and woodlands, connecting two parks (one at each end of the trail) on the western side of Decatur in central...
The Terre Haute segment of the National Road Heritage Trail runs for nearly 7 miles between the west end of Indiana State University campus downtown and Chamberlain Road behind Mewhinney Cemetery just...
The Brown Boulevard Trail offers students from Terre Haute North Vigo High School a safe route to the Indiana State University Stadium to catch a game. The 2-mile trail also connects to the National...
The Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail runs 12 miles, much of the way along an old railroad right-of-way between County Highway 2 east of Charleston and the ball fields at 10th Street in Mattoon; an...
While you’re in the land of Lincoln, visit the Lincoln Prairie Trail to make the trip complete. Starting at the trailhead in northwest Pana, leisurely stroll along a paved trail that is nicely...
The first portion of the TREC (Trail Recreation Effingham County) system, totaling approximately 3 miles, is complete, although eventually 30 miles of county-wide bicycling and walking trails will be...
The backbone of the Greenbelt Bikeway runs north–south along Copper Slough, passing through two large city parks divided by W. Bradley Avenue. In Dodds Park to the north, there is a spur west through...
The Wabashiki Trail sits on the traces the perimeter of the Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area, leaving travelers with the dual experience of nature and suburbia on either side. Great for wildlife...
The Rosedale South Trail offers a paved, tree-lined route along the former Pennsylvania Railroad in the western Indiana community of Rosedale. It begins on the Central Street and travels southwest for...
Although less than 1 mile long, the Dobbs Trail offers an important connection between two of Terre Haute's most popular parks, Deming and Dobbs. It follows Poplar Drive, a tree-lined residential...
The Fairview Park Trail, in western Decatur, traverses the large and beautiful Fairview Park and connects (via roadway) to the park's various attractions: an aquatic center, lake, gardens, pavilions,...
Monticello is a small, central Illinois town steeped in a railroad history it still celebrates. Its Chamber of Commerce has offices and special activities in the historic downtown Train Depot. And it...
The Lincoln Park Trail runs along the wooded north banks of the Sangamon River. It's mostly flat with a few low hills. Visible from the trail are Decatur's Lincoln Park, some classic old neighborhoods...
Monticello is a small, central Illinois town steeped in a railroad history it still celebrates. Its Chamber of Commerce has offices and special activities in the historical downtown train depot. And...
I fully agree with other reviews great trail. Thanx to those responsible for getting it paved. All in sun however, might want cloudy day. Easy 20+ mile ride if you want, goes into 2 towns for food also.
This trail used to have some gravel but no longer..., it’s all asphalt now. It is a nice little jaunt to Mattoon and back. There is no shade except under I-57 near Mattoon. Wildflowers are beautiful. There are access points from the trail to the Charleston Country Club ( golf course) and Douglas/Hart Nature Center just outside of Mattoon. Port
Overall, trail was great! There are a few spots where some of the gravel was deeper and more difficult to navigate but our hybrid bikes handled this okay. The area around the trail was very well maintained and is in a very beautiful area along lake Shelbyville. We grabbed breakfast in town before our ride but would recommend parking at the visitors center (near the dam) to begin your ride. The trail is not marked in town.
We rode east from Fruitridge and Locust street. It is an easy ride. We are 70 and had no issues. Lots of shady areas. About 7.47 mile round trip.
We started our ride at the Pana end of the trail with plans to have lunch in Taylorville. The trail was an easy, flat ride with short sections of bumpy trail but our hybrid bikes handled this well. Near Taylorville there was a lot of debris (branches/leaves) on the trail including a fallen tree. Despite being able to get around that, we ran into the bridge closure that prevented us from grabbing lunch in Taylorville. Very disappointing!
The trail was rough and not really suited for road bikes. Where they patched it with ground up asphalt is very rough and not packed well and sucks you’re tires and pulls you.
The trail from Mattoon to a trucking company looks good but from the trucking company toward Charleston which is where we started the trail was not good for road bikes. They have used what appears to be recycled asphalt and it is rough and not packed down well.
We, myself, my 10 year old son and our black lab enjoyed a nice walk on this trial today. Yes, it isn't the longest trail, but for a nice after dinner walk, it's actually the perfect length. It's maintained very well, very clean and so, we highly recommend this trail to all of our friends and family members.
My daughter and I took a quick walk down the trail from parking at National to the other parking area where the new trail may start at move east. My question is why are the No Trespassing signs still up on the levees? Trail conditions where great but it leads one to wonder if it’s really an open trail. I will be photographing in this area and look forward to more access into the area.
A waste of time . It is also not the safest area in Champaign
Parked at the Savoy rec center and rode North. The North side had road construction going on so was closed. Hopefully it’ll be open by this fall. We loved this trail and just wished it was longer. They could extend it a couple more miles to the South.
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